Hepatitis C is a virus that mainly affects the liver. It causes chronic liver inflammation and long-term liver damage. It causes swelling and inflammation in the liver which damages the tissues of the liver with time.
Chronic inflammation over the years can cause serious damage to the liver. It should be noted that Hepatitis C is one of the leading causes of liver failure and liver transplantation in the US. Many people do not develop its symptoms until severe damage has been done to the liver.
Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood. It is transmitted through infected needles or syringes. It can also be transferred from unsafe medical procedures, including blood transfusions with unscreened blood products.
Hepatitis C Causes
Hepatitis C is mainly caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) which spreads through blood contact. It is mostly transmitted when the blood of an infected person mixes with the blood of an uninfected person.
Many ways can cause the contact of the blood which can lead to Hepatitis C. Some of them are as follows:
- Exposure to sharp objects, needles, and syringes
- Body piercings or Tattoos made with unsterilized equipment
- Sharing personal belongings like toothbrush or razor
- Less likely through sexual contact that causes blood exposure
- Blood Transfusions
- Organ Transplants
ALSO, READ: 4 Ways To Prevent From Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C Symptoms
A long-term Hepatitis C infection begins with an acute phase. Acute hepatitis C is not diagnosed early because it uncommonly causes any symptoms.
Some of the symptoms of acute-phase hepatitis C are as follows:
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Muscle Aches
ALSO, READ: 7 Symptoms of Hepatitis C You Must Know
On the other hand, long-term hepatitis is known as Chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C has no symptoms for years. The symptoms only appear when the virus damages the liver.
- Fatigue
- Bleeding easily
- Bruising easily
- Jaundice (Yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Do not want to eat
- Itchy skin
- Dark colored urine
- Swelling in the legs
- Unexplained Weight loss
- Fluid accumulation in the stomach areas (ascites)
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Slurred speech
- Spider-like blood vessels on the skin (Spider angiomas)
Hepatitis C symptoms in Urdu
ایک طویل مدتی ہیپاٹائٹس سی انفیکشن شدید مرحلے سے شروع ہوتا ہے۔ شدید ہیپاٹائٹس سی کی جلد تشخیص نہیں ہوتی ہے کیونکہ یہ غیر معمولی طور پر کسی بھی علامات کا سبب بنتا ہے۔
- بخار
- یرقان
- تھکاوٹ
- متلی
- پٹھوں میں درد
دوسری طرف، طویل مدتی ہیپاٹائٹس کو دائمی ہیپاٹائٹس سی کے نام سے جانا جاتا ہے۔ دائمی ہیپاٹائٹس سی کی برسوں تک کوئی علامت نہیں ہوتی ہے۔ علامات صرف اس وقت ظاہر ہوتی ہیں جب وائرس جگر کو نقصان پہنچاتا ہے۔
- تھکاوٹ
- آسانی سے خون بہنا
- آسانی سے چوٹ لگنا
- یرقان (جلد اور آنکھوں کا پیلا ہونا)
- کھانے کو جی نہیں چاہتا
- کھجلی جلد
- گہرے رنگ کا پیشاب
- ٹانگوں میں سوجن
- غیر واضح وزن میں کمی
- پیٹ کے علاقوں میں سیال جمع ہونا (جلد)
- غنودگی
- الجھاؤ
- مبہم خطاب
- جلد پر مکڑی نما خون کی نالیاں
4 Best Hepatitis C Medicine in Pakistan
Some of the best hepatitis C medicines in Pakistan are as follows:
1. Sovaldi Tablet
Sovaldi Tablet is an FDA-approved drug. It is mainly used to treat children of 3 years of age and older having chronic HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection without cirrhosis.
It is usually given in combination with other antiviral drugs (ribavirin etc). Ir should not be given alone.
Sovaldi Tablet is manufactured by Ferozsons Laboratories in Pakistan.
Sovaldi Tablet has an active ingredient known as Sofosbuvir. It belongs to the class of drugs known as HCV Polymerase Inhibitor. It functions by decreasing the amount of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the body which helps in the recovery of the liver.
Sovaldi Tablet Uses
Some of the uses of the Sovaldi tablet are as follows:
- Treat Chronic Hepatitis C
Sovaldi Tablet Side Effects
Some of the common side effects of Sovaldi tablet are as follows:
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Itching
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Anemia
- Decreased appetite
- Chills
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Weakness
- Rash
- Flu-like illness
- Joint pain
- Irritability
- Low blood cell count (Pancytopenia)
- Low white blood cell count (Neutropenia)
Sovaldi Tablet Price in Pakistan
The Sovaldi tablet price in Pakistan is Rs1,940/tablet. The whole pack of Sovaldi tablets costs around 9000-10,000/pack.
Sovaldi Tablet Drug Interactions
Sovaldi tablet may interact with the following drugs:
- Carbamazepine
- Oxcarbazepine
- Phenytoin
- Phenobarbital
- Rifabutin
- Rifampin
- Rifapentine
- Tipranavir
2. Abriva Tablet
Abriva Tablet is an FDA-approved drug. It is used to treat chronic hepatitis C with or without cirrhosis.
Abriva Tablet is manufactured by CCL Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd in Pakistan.
The active ingredients in Abriva Tablet are sofosbuvir and velpatasvir. These both are antiviral medications and belong to the class of drugs known as HCV Polymerase Inhibitors. They work by decreasing the amount of Hepatitis C virus in the body which can help the immune system to fight against the infection. Thus, it aids in recovering the liver.
Abriva Tablet Uses
The common use of Abriva Tablet is to treat chronic hepatitis C genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 infections (with or without cirrhosis).
Abriva Tablet Side Effects
Some of the common side effects of the Abriva tablet are as follows:
- Blood dyscrasias (blood disorders)
- Insomnia
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Agitation
- Headache
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Blurred vision
- Cough
- Dizziness
- Migraine
- Attention disturbances
- Stomach upset
- Rash
Abriva Tablet Price in Pakistan
The Abriva tablet price in Pakistan is Rs 3147/strip. The whole pack of Abriva tablets in Pakistan costs around Rs 12,590/pack.
Abriva Tablet Drug Interactions
Some of the common drugs with which Abriva tablet interacts are as follows:
- Rifampin
- St. John’s wort
- Carbamazepine
3. Hepaldi Tablet
Hepaldi Tablet is an FDA-approved drug. It is used to treat chronic Hepatitis C. It is a direct-acting antiviral medicine. It is used in combination with other antiviral medications.
Hepaldi Tablet is manufactured by Scotmann Pharmaceuticals in Pakistan.
The active ingredient in the Hepaldi Tablet is Sofosbuvir. It belongs to the class of drugs known as HCV Polymerase Inhibitor. It functions by decreasing the amount of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the body which helps in the recovery of the liver.
Hepaldi Tablet Uses
Some of the uses of the Hepaldi tablet are as follows:
- Treat chronic Hepatitis C
- Reduce the chances of infection recurrence following the transplant
Hepaldi Tablet Side Effects
Some of the Hepaldi tablet side effects are as follows:
- Blood dyscrasias (blood disorders)
- Insomnia
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Agitation
- Headache
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Blurred vision
- Cough
- Dizziness
- Migraine
- Attention disturbances
- Stomach upset
- Rash
Hepaldi Tablet Price in Pakistan
The Hepaldi tablet price in Pakistan is Rs 188.61/tablet. The price of the Hepaldi tablet pack in Pakistan is Rs 5281-5868/pack.
Hepaldi Tablet Drug Interactions
Some of the drugs with which the Hepaldi tablet interacts are as follows:
- Carbamazepine
- Oxcarbazepine
- Phenytoin
- Phenobarbital
- Rifabutin
- Rifampin
- Rifapentine
- Tipranavir
4. Sofvel Tablet
Sofvel Tablet is an FDA-approved drug that is used to treat chronic hepatitis C. It is used in combination with other antiviral drugs (ribavirin, etc)
Sofvel Tablet is manufactured by Aspin Pharma in Pakistan.
The active ingredients in Sofvel Tablet are sofosbuvir and velpatasvir. These both are antiviral medications and belong to the class of drugs known as HCV Polymerase Inhibitors. They work by decreasing the amount of Hepatitis C virus in the body which can help the immune system to fight against the infection. Thus, it aids in recovering the liver.
Sofvel Tablet Uses
The main use of the Sofvel tablet is to treat chronic hepatitis C.
Sofvel Tablet Side Effects
Some of the side effects of the Sofvel tablet are as follows:
- Blood dyscrasias (blood disorders)
- Insomnia
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Agitation
- Headache
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Blurred vision
- Cough
- Dizziness
- Migraine
- Attention disturbances
- Stomach upset
- Rash
Sofvel Tablet Price in Pakistan
The price of Sof vel tablet in Pakistan is Rs 9,000-10,000/pack. The price of Sof vel tablet in Pakistan is Rs. 321.43/tablet.
Sofvel Tablet Drug Interactions
Some of the common drugs with which Sof vel tablet interacts are as follows:
- Rifampin
- St. John’s wort
- Carbamazepine
Discontinued HCV Medications by the FDA
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has discontinued some medications for Hepatitis C. Some of the HCV medications that are discontinued by the FDA are as follows:
- Boceprevir
- Daclatasvir
- Simeprevir
- Telaprevir
- Ombitasvir-Paritaprevir-Ritonavir
- Ombitasvir-Paritaprevir-Ritonavir-Dasabuvir
Hepatitis C Test Price in Pakistan
The hepatitis C test price in Pakistan varies from lab to lab. However, you can get the Hepatitis C test done in a range of Rs 1000-5000.
Moreover, HCV Qualitative PCR test price in Pakistan ranges between Rs. 5,000-10,000.
You can also watch this video by Dr. Hidayat Ul Haq – Internal Medicine Specialist in which he talks about Hepatitis C (Hepatitis C ki alamaat symptoms and Hepatitis C mein kya hota hai?)
When to See a Doctor for Hepatitis C?
If you are experiencing any symptoms of Hepatitis C, then you should consult the best hepatologist in Pakistan via Marham.pk.
Whether you have acute or chronic hepatitis C, you should seek immediate medical assistance and start the treatment as early as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the price of Hep C tablets in Pakistan?
The price of Hepatitis C tablets in Pakistan is around Rs 9,000-10,000/pack.
2. Is Hep C treatment a pill?
Currently, there is no vaccine available to treat Hepatitis C. However, it can be treated with certain antiviral medications in Pakistan.